Page 100 of A New Chapter

“What’s going on? What’s wrong with my daughter?”

Emma was still fuzzy-headed, but the cool washcloth on her forehead helped, and she sat up to accept the glass of water from Gracie’s little hands.

Zack rubbed his hands up and down her arms in a soothing motion. “Are you ok, babe?” he asked, his eyes full of concern.

“Yes, I’m fine,” Emma managed, feeling herself slowly return to normal.

“Is someone going to tell me what’s going on?” Hank demanded.

Zack gathered Gracie in close and gave her a reassuring squeeze. Emma looked between her mom, dad, and Gracie. Then she took a deep breath and said, “I’m going to have a baby. Zack and I are going to have a baby.”

“We were waiting to tell everyone until after Emma’s first doctor appointment,” Zack added, concern still etched on his face.

Mary opened her mouth to speak, but Gracie surprised them all by shouting, “Am I going to have a baby too?”

“You’re going to have a baby brother or sister, but not for a little while yet,” Zack answered calmly.

Gracie appeared to mull the idea over and then said, “It better not be a brother because I don’t like boys!”

A rumble of laughter filled the room, Mary’s and Hank’s included.

“Well, this is some news!” Hank said.

“It is indeed,” Mary added, her eyes welling up with tears.

The rest of the evening smoothed out after that. Emma’s parents seemed genuinely thrilled with the news. Mary refused to let Emma serve them dessert, and she and Gracie served it instead in the living room, where Zack kept a close eye on Emma. Zack and Gracie flanked Emma on either side while they indulged in chocolate cake and talked about the baby.

Naturally, Gracie had the most questions, starting with, “Where will the baby sleep?”

“In a crib,” Zack answered, hoping to bypass the next question.

“At whose house?”

“Umm… we’re not sure yet.”

Mary and Hank exchanged a curious glance but didn’t say a word.

“Will I get to play with the baby?”

“Of course, but when babies are first born, they don’t really play,” Emma answered.

“Well, can I hold it?”

“Yes,” Zack said.

“And feed it?”

“Absolutely,” Emma said, already accustomed to the barrage of questions. Gracie was her father’s daughter after all!

“What will we call it?”

Zack’s face lit up with the Kostas trademark grin. “If it’s a boy, we were thinking Zeus.”

Mary bobbled her spoonful of cake, and Hank broke out in a coughing fit.

“He’s kidding,” Emma said, rolling her eyes at Zack.

“What if it’s a girl? I want it to be a girl,” Gracie said emphatically.

“We haven’t decided on any names yet, but we still have plenty of time,” Emma replied, rumpling Gracie’s dark curls.

“Gracie, why don’t you help me take these dishes to the kitchen?” Mary suggested.

Grateful for the reprieve, Emma leaned her head against Zack’s shoulder.

“Are you feeling better now?” he asked, cupping her face in his hands.

“I feel wonderful,” she replied and gave him a brief kiss, aware of her father’s eyes upon them.

“So, Dad, what do you think of our news?”

Hank cleared his throat noisily and answered, “I think that I’m going to be a grandpa.”